Notes from the Editor Emeritus

In 2009, the field of hair restoration surgery was influenced by patient preferences, leading to innovations such as follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction. However, the pursuit of perfection, such as no visible scarring and densely packed single hairs, was questioned. The author argued that perfection might not be an appropriate goal, as hair transplantation is about creating an illusion of greater coverage. The author also noted that patients were generally satisfied with the results achieved with existing techniques and were concerned about financial justification. The author suggested that improving average outcomes and managing patient expectations were more important. The author also warned against the dangers of single-pass transplants and "normal density" follicular unit transplantation, as they oversimplify the complex problem of male pattern baldness and promise over-optimistic solutions. The author proposed an alternative strategy of "minimum comfort level," aiming to achieve each patient's unique goal using the least amount of grafted hair.